This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6297093.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Crash kills Ecuador defence chief | Crash kills Ecuador defence chief |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Ecuador's Defence Minister Guadalupe Larriva has been killed in a crash involving two military helicopters, officials have said. | |
| Ms Larriva's 17-year-old daughter, who was with her in one of the helicopters, and five army officers also died. | |
| The aircraft collided during a night-time exercise near the city of Manta on the Pacific coast. | |
| Ms Larriva, 50, took office on 15 January, and was the first woman to serve as Ecuador's defence minister. | Ms Larriva, 50, took office on 15 January, and was the first woman to serve as Ecuador's defence minister. |
| Ms Larriva, who formerly headed the small Socialist party, was appointed by left-wing President Rafael Correa when he came to power earlier this month. | Ms Larriva, who formerly headed the small Socialist party, was appointed by left-wing President Rafael Correa when he came to power earlier this month. |
| Mr Correa expressed sorrow over the accident after travelling to the crash site. | Mr Correa expressed sorrow over the accident after travelling to the crash site. |
| He said country was living through a very difficult moment. | He said country was living through a very difficult moment. |
| "We are going to ask friendly countries to help us with the investigation of the accident," the president added. | |
| Mr Rafael Correa, a left-wing economist, won Ecuador's presidential election in November and was inaugurated last week. |